The Missouri football team is ranked No. 17 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' preseason poll released Friday.
The Tigers, ranked in a preseason poll for the first time since 1980, received 502 points. MU was most recently ranked in the coaches' Oct. 26 poll at No. 24.
USC is ranked No. 1. Big 12 Conference teams Oklahoma (No. 2), Texas (8) and Kansas State (13) also are ranked.
The Tigers were 8-5 last year and played in their first bowl game since 1999.
Tickets for each of MU's six home games go on sale at 9 a.m. Saturday at www.mutigers.com.
Tickets are available in person or at 1-800-CAT-PAWS beginning at 8 a.m. Monday.